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History

Since 2011, Caribbean-born choreographer Paloma McGregor has been developing Building A Better Fishtrap, a performance project rooted in the vanishing fishing tradition of her 97-year-old father. The project examines what happens when you leave your ancestral home: What do you take with you? Leave behind? Return to reclaim?

McGregor and her collaborators – from a grandfather in the Bronx to dancers in a studio on Governor’s Island – have spent the past few years exploring the body’s capacity to carry place, memory and experience with it in ways that can transform objects, spaces, collaborators and audiences. Each iteration of the work is created using the Fishtrap Method. Like McGregor’s father’s practice of building traps, these creative Fishtraps are crafted using core physical elements and embodied practices that are customized according to how she visions the work functioning in each space it inhabits. “The doing in this work is its magic,” reflected Ni’Ja Whitson in Contact Quarterly. “And McGregor does both the subtle and grand with such intention, the magic hypnotizes.”

I will never know what it would be like to go fishing with my father. I will never sit with him at the calm waters of Gallows Bay, slowly crafting each trap. Nor do I have any of the last set of traps he built before his hands, now feeling this dry earth for 92 years, got too shaky.


But I do have this kaleidoscope of memories – some experienced, some passed down, some imagined.

From this, I will have to build my own Fishtraps…

I doubt they will be better than his, but they will be mine.

The early years of this project envisioned several culminations including: a first iteration titled Building A Better Fishtrap/Part 1 presented by longtime partner BAAD!; a work-in-progress showing of the installation-based Building A Better Fishtrap/Phase 2 at BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange as part of Paloma’s 2-year artist residency there; a commission by Dance Theatre Etcetera to create a site-responsive iteration in Red Hook in October 2015; and an installation along the Bronx River that would be seen from shore and by boat. With each iteration, the hope is to deepen the connections collaborators and audiences have with one another’s legacies and the future of our embattled water spaces.

This iterative creative process has also led to the development of Paloma’s Fishtrap Method – a movement-based practice that builds devised, community-specific performance work. This adaptive methodology for collaboration evolves her father’s approach to engineering fish traps; he used what was available, including repurposed industrial materials, to make traps that lasted longer. Paloma uses her choreographic and organizing practices to galvanize what’s available – people, traditions, spaces – to build art that lures a wide range of participants; considers its function; and has impact long after the project is over.

“With each iteration, the hope is to
deepen the connections
collaborators and audiences have with one another’s
legacies and the future of our embattled water spaces.

– Paloma McGregor

Fishtrap Iterations

Building a Better Fishtrap
Building a Better Fishtrap

Since 2011, Caribbean-born choreographer Paloma McGregor has been developing Building A Better Fishtrap , a performance project rooted in the vanishing fishing tradition of her 93-year-old father. The project examines what happens when you leave your ancestral home: What do you take with you? Leave behind? Return to reclaim?

Building A Better Fishtrap / Part 1
Building A Better Fishtrap / Part 1

a dance-theater work in which five dancers piece together a kaleidoscopic tale

Building A Better Fishtrap / Phase 2
Building A Better Fishtrap / Phase 2

a solo meditation on the practice of remembering

Building A Better Fishtrap / from the river’s mouth
Building A Better Fishtrap / from the river’s mouth

a performance ritual that honors and embodies the stories and spirit of the Bronx River

Press

Press

Developmental Residencies

  • New York Live Arts Live Feed, 2016-18
  • BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange, 2014-16
  • Lower Manhattan Cultural Council at Governor’s Island, 2015
  • Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics, 2013-15
  • Wave Hill, 2013
  • iLand, 2012
  • E|Merge at Earthdance, 2011

Developmental Residencies

  • New York Live Arts Live Feed, 2016-18
  • BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange, 2014-16
  • Lower Manhattan Cultural Council at Governor’s Island, 2015
  • Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics, 2013-15
  • Wave Hill, 2013
  • iLand, 2012
  • E|Merge at Earthdance, 2011

Past Performances

october 2022

07octallday09Loophole of Retreat: Venice(All Day) Fondazione Giorgio Cini, VeniceDancing While Black:CommunityBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap ShowingAngela's Pulse:Guest Appearance

february 2022

27janallday06febDenton Black Film FestivalFeaturing A'we deh ya (All of us are here) Sketch 321 - Salt/Cane/Womb(All Day) Online via EventiveBuilding A Better Fishtrap:A'we deh ya

december 2021

03decalldayA'we deh ya ("All of us are here")Virtual Private Showing(All Day: friday) VIRTUALBuilding A Better Fishtrap:A'we deh ya,Fishtrap Showing

june 2021

19jun3:00 pm4:00 pmREFRAME / REMNANT / RITUAL: Film PremiereFeaturing a new iteration of A'we deh ya3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST VIRTUALBuilding A Better Fishtrap:A'we deh ya,Fishtrap Showing

december 2020

13dec3:00 pmblack/water BroadcastCurated by Ebony Noelle Golden3:00 pm EST VIRTUALBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap ConversationAngela's Pulse:Guest Appearance

november 2020

21nov4:00 pm5:30 pmMeMoSa: Angela's Pulse: A'we deh yaMovement Media Salon (MeMoSa) at The Movement Lab, Barnard College4:00 pm - 5:30 pm EST VIRTUALBuilding A Better Fishtrap:A'we deh ya,Fishtrap Showing

13nov(nov 13)7:30 pm19(nov 19)11:00 pmCU Boulder's [un]WRAP: (un)doing and (re)makingFeaturing an excerpt of Building a Better Fishtrap / from the river's mouth7:30 pm - 11:00 pm (19) CST VIRTUALBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap ShowingAngela's Pulse:Guest Appearance

october 2020

16oct1:00 pm3:00 pmFishtrap Method WorkshopThe Movement Lab at Barnard College1:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST VIRTUALBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Method Workshop

june 2020

28may(may 28)2:00 pm06jun(jun 6)3:00 pmMiBC - Dance on Tour presents "Arts in Site" Dance Symposium 2020Paloma McGregor and Nina A. Mercer discuss Building a Better Fishtrap(may 28) 2:00 pm - (june 6) 3:00 pm EST Building A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap ConversationAngela's Pulse:Guest Appearance

march 2020

29mar11:15 am12:15 pmFishtrap Method WorkshopAt the MOJUBA! Black Dance Fest11:15 am - 12:15 pm Rainey Institute, 1705 East 55th Street, Cleveland, OhioBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Method WorkshopAngela's Pulse:Guest Appearance

19jan(jan 19)2:30 pm29mar(mar 29)4:00 pmWinter Workspace 10 Year Anniversary: Returning to the SourceVideo Excerpt of "Building a Better Fishtrap / from the river's mouth" on exhibition(january 19) 2:30 pm - (march 29) 4:00 pm Wave Hill, 675 West 252nd Street Bronx, NY 10471Building A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

october 2019

29sepallday05octBuilding a Better Fishtrap at VCU Danceas part of a creative residency at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts Department of Dance and Choreography(All Day) EST The Anderson, 907 ½ West Franklin Street Richmond, VABuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Community Engagement,Fishtrap Showing

august 2019

18augallday31Paloma McGregor In Process at VCU Danceas part of a creative residency at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts Department of Dance and Choreography(All Day) EST The Anderson, 907 ½ West Franklin Street Richmond, VABuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Community Engagement,Fishtrap Showing

june 2018

23jun11:30 amBuilding a Better Fishtrap / from the river's mouth11:30 am EST Starlight Park and Hunts Point Riverside Park, 1490 Sheridan ExpresswayBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Community Engagement,Fishtrap Showing

july 2017

15julalldayBuilding a Better Fishtrap at the Celebration of the Starlight Park River House(All Day: saturday) EST South BronxBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Community Engagement,Fishtrap Showing

june 2017

16jun6:00 pmLive Feed: Building a Better Fishtrappart of a 2016-18 Live Feed residency6:00 pm EST New York Live Arts Studios, 219 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011Building A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

05junallday30Works on Waterfeaturing an installation from the set of Building A Better Fishtrap(All Day) EST 3LD Art & Technology Center, 80 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10006Building A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

january 2017

07jan3:00 pmLive Artery: BUILDING A BETTER FISHTRAP/Phase 2Commissioned by Live Arts as part of the Live Feed creative residency program.3:00 pm EST New York Live Arts Studios, 219 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011Building A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

october 2016

01octalldayMigrating Historiespresented by Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts(All Day: saturday) EST Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts, St. CroixBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Community Engagement,Fishtrap Showing

june 2016

17jun8:00 pmBuilding a Better Fishtrap/Phase 28:00 pm EST BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange, 421 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NYBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

february 2016

06feb3:00 pmBAX AIR OPEN STUDIOS IIBuilding a Better Fishtrap/Part 23:00 pm EST BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange, 421 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NYBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

december 2015

20dec8:00 pmMemory WithholdingsCurated by Love|Fortè, A Collective (BAX Artists in Residence)8:00 pm EST BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange, 421 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NYBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

november 2015

21novalldayBAX OPEN STUDIO SERIESBuilding a Better Fishtrap/Part 2(All Day: saturday) EST BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange, 421 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NYBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

october 2015

04oct1:00 pmDance on the Greenway 2015presented by Dance Theatre Etcetera1:00 pm EST Dance Theatre Etcetera, 480 Van Brunt Street, Ste 203 Brooklyn, NY 11231Building A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Community Engagement,Fishtrap Showing

may 2015

22may8:00 pmBuilding a Better Fishtrap/Part 1New York Evening-Length Premiere8:00 pm EST BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance, 2474 Westchester Ave, Bronx, NY 10461Building A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

january 2015

31jan1:00 pm4:00 pmThe Way Out is Through: Building a Better Fishtrap/Start in the MiddleNo Longer Empty Lab: Dance Performance1:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST LeRoy Neiman Art Center, 2785 Frederick Douglass Boulevard New York, NYBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Community Engagement,Fishtrap Showing

12jan2:00 pm4:00 pmAPAP 2015 Special African-American Female Choreographer ShowcaseCo-hosted by Camille A. Brown and Pamela Green2:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST New York City CenterBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

09jan9:00 am2:30 pmBronx Artists Now: Showcases & Conversationsproduced by Jane Gabriels (Director of Pepatian)9:00 am - 2:30 pm EST BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance, 2474 Westchester Ave, Bronx, NY 10461Building A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

june 2014

24junalldayurban interventionspart of Encuentro: MANIFEST! Choreographing Social Movements in the Americas(All Day: tuesday) EST CanadaBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Community Engagement,Fishtrap Showing

may 2014

03may5:00 pm7:00 pmDancing While Black + RE: PURPOSE5:00 pm - 7:00 pm EST FiveMyles, 558 St Johns Pl. Brooklyn, NYDancing While Black:Dancing While BlackBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Showing

august 2013

16augalldayWATERWASH(All Day: friday) EST WATERWASH ABC Wetland ParkBuilding A Better Fishtrap:Fishtrap Community Engagement,Fishtrap Showing

[PHOTO CREDITS] from top, Paloma McGregor and Oceana James in process in St. Croix (2016) header and carousel images by Quiana L. Adams | Paloma McGregor in Building a Better Fishtrap / phase 2 (2016) by Whitney Browne Photography | Paloma McGregor at Concrete Plant Park (2013) by Charles R. Berenguer Jr. | Jessica Lee, Erica Saucedo, Ricarrdo Valentine, and Christine King in Building a Better Fishtrap in Dance on the Greenway at Dance Theater Ecetera (2015)

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